Meter having a communication interface for receiving and interfacing with a communication device

ABSTRACT

A meter is provided having a communication interface for receiving and interfacing with a communication device for transmitting measurement and other data to a central computer station via the communication device. The meter includes a measurement module for obtaining measurement data and a processor having a memory for storing application software for communicating the measurement and other data to the communication interface. The data are then provided to the communication device via the communication interface. The communication device is preferably a plug-and-play PCMCIA-type card or other type of memory card having a processor and a connection port for connecting to a port adaptor of the communication interface for receiving the data via the connection port-port adaptor connection. The communication device further includes communication circuitry for communicating the received data to the central computer station via one or more communications networks according to a communications protocol pre-programmed within the processor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to meters of the type used tomeasure power usage, fluid flow, etc. In particular, the presentdisclosure relates to a meter having a communication interface forreceiving and interfacing with a communication device.

2. Background of the Related Art

Meters are generally installed by utility companies to measure, forexample, the amount of energy used by a customer in order to properlybill the customer for the amount of energy used during a specific timeperiod. The most common method for reading the meter to obtainmeasurements of power usage, etc. is for an individual to visit thelocation of the meter, visually make a reading by viewing the meter'selectronic display or other type of display, such as a series of dials,etc., and record the viewed measurement. The individual may also opt touse a wireless electronic meter reading device, such as a device iscapable for example to communicate with a meter's IrDA port when thedevice is placed in proximity to the IrDA port and along theline-of-sight of the IrDA port. Another type of wireless electronicmeter reading device includes a short-range RF receiver forcommunicating with a meter's short-range RF transmitter when the deviceis in proximity to the meter. The obtained measurements are thenmanually inputted or downloaded to a central computer station forbilling and other purposes.

An additional method of reading meters is via a communicationsinfrastructure having one or more communications networks, such as PSTN,cellular network, satellite network, Internet, Ethernet, Intranet, LAN,WAN, and other types of networks, capable of transmitting data accordingto one or more communications protocols, such as CDMA, TDMA, 3G,Internet protocol, Bluetooth, etc., to the central computer station.Accordingly, such meters are equipped with communication circuitry whichincludes at least a transmitter and an antenna for wirelessly ornon-wirelessly transmitting data to a communications network of thecommunications infrastructure according to a communications protocol. Asegment or portion of the communication circuitry is generally providedto the meter at the time of manufacture in the form of an embedded ASICchip which also performs other functions of the meter.

As such in prior art meters, the circuitry responsible for providing themeter's remote communication capabilities cannot easily be separatedfrom the circuitry which provides the meter's non-communicationcapabilities. Hence, if a utility company desires to change from onecommunication infrastructure to another, and/or switch to anothercommunications network and/or communications protocol, the utilitycompany is generally required to replace every meter in the field withmeters having the desired communication capabilities.

For example, if a utility company has installed in a city power usagemeters capable of communicating with the central computer station via acellular network leased from a cellular service provider and operatingaccording to the CDMA communications protocol and then the utilitycompany desires to lease another cellular network from another cellularservice provider which operates according to the 3G communicationsprotocol, the utility company would have to replace every power usagemeter in the city with power usage meters capable of communicatingaccording to the 3G communications protocol. This is very costly andtime consuming.

A need therefore exists for a meter having a communication interface forreceiving and interfacing with a communication device for communicatingwith a central computer station. A need also exists for a method foreffectively and inexpensively switching from one communicationsinfrastructure to another, where each communications infrastructure mayinclude different communications networks and/or communicationsprotocols.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides a meter having communicationcapabilities and which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. Inparticular, the present disclosure provides a meter having acommunication interface for receiving and interfacing with acommunication device for transmitting measurement and other data to acentral or remote computer station via the communication device. Themeter includes a measurement module for obtaining measurement data and aprocessor (or ASIC) having a memory for storing application softwarecapable of being executed by the processor for performing variousfunctions of the meter, such as running diagnostic tests, obtainingmeasurement data, and operating a display.

The application software is also executed for communicating themeasurement and other data to the communication interface. The data arethen provided to the communication device via the communicationinterface from where it is transmitted to the central computer stationvia a communications infrastructure. Preferably, the communicationdevice is powered by the meter via the communication interface. Thecommunication device is equipped with communication circuitry andapplication software for transmitting the measurement and other data viaa communications network according to a communications protocol as knownin the art.

The communication device is preferably a plug-and-play PCMCIA-type cardor other type of memory card having a processor (or ASIC) and aconnection port for connecting to a port adaptor of the communicationinterface for receiving measurement and other data via the connectionport-port adaptor connection. The communication device further includescommunication circuitry for communicating the received measurement andother data to the central computer station via one or morecommunications networks, such as PSTN, cellular network, satellitenetwork, Internet, Ethernet, Intranet, LAN, WAN, etc., of acommunications infrastructure according to a communications protocol,such as CDMA, TDMA, 3G, Internet protocol, Bluetooth, etc.,pre-programmed within the processor.

The communication device may also be, for example, a cellular phonehaving a port connector capable of connecting to the communicationinterface for receiving the measurement and other data via the portconnector-communication interface connection and for transmitting themeasurement and other data to the central computer station via a CDMAcellular communications network according to the CDMA communicationsprotocol. The communication device may also be, for example, a PDAhaving a port connector capable of connecting to the communicationinterface for receiving the measurement and other data via the portconnector-communication interface and for transmitting the receivedmeasurement and other data to a PSTN, from where it is transmittedthrough the Internet according to the Internet protocol, and then toanother PSTN connected to the central computer station.

The present disclosure further provides a method for effectively andinexpensively switching from a first communications infrastructure to asecond communications infrastructure for receiving measurement data at acentral or remote computer station from a plurality of meters. Eachmeter includes a measurement module for obtaining measurement data; anda communication interface configured for receiving the measurement data.The method includes the step of interfacing each of the plurality ofmeters with a first communication device via the communicationinterface. The first communication device is adapted to communicate withthe central computer station via the first communicationsinfrastructure. The method further includes the step of removing thefirst communication device from each of the plurality of meters andinterfacing each of the plurality of meters with a second communicationdevice via the communication interface. The second communication deviceis adapted to communicate with the central computer station via thesecond communications infrastructure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are describedhereinbelow with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a meter having a communication interfacefor receiving and interfacing with a communication device in accordancewith the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the meter of FIG. 1 showing thecommunication interface;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the meter of FIG. 1 showing acommunication device being received by and interfaced with thecommunication interface;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the meter of FIG. 1 showing thecommunication device interfaced with the communication interface; and

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b are block diagrams of the meter shown by FIG. 1 andthe communication device shown by FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now in detail to the drawing figures, in which like referencesnumerals identify similar or identical elements, there is illustrated inFIG. 1 a meter constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe present disclosure and is designated generally by reference numeral10. Meter 10 is preferably of the type used for measuring power and/orenergy use, such as for example, an electric current meter. However,other types of meters, such as, for example, gas, oil, pressure, andwater or other fluid measuring meters, are contemplated within the scopeof the present disclosure.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, meter 10 includes a communication interface12 for receiving and interfacing with a communication device 14 which islocated in proximity to meter 10. Communication device 14 transmits themeasurement and other data to a central or remote computer station.Meter 10 further includes a glass housing 16; a rotating wheel 18; aseries of mechanical dials 20 for displaying, for example,kilowatt-hours (the dials can be replaced by a digital display as knownin the art) as measured by a measurement module 50 (see FIG. 5 a); andpower line 22 for powering meter 10. Measurement module 50 includescircuits, components and devices for measuring power usage, fluid flow,etc. as known in the art.

Communication interface 12 includes a port adaptor 12 a andcommunication device 14 includes a connection port 24 for connecting toport adaptor 12 a, in order for communication interface 12 tocommunicate measurement and other data to communication device 14 viathe connection port-port adaptor connection as shown by FIG. 4. Theconnection is preferably achieved via an edge connector scheme as knownin the art. Glass housing 16 defines an opening for placement of portadaptor 12 a as shown by FIG. 2. The opening enables the communicationdevice 14 to be interfaced with the meter 10 without opening the housing16 as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3. Likewise, the communicationdevice 14 may be removed from the housing 16 without opening the housingwhen replacing the communication device 14 with one of a differentcommunication protocol. Once disposed in the opening of the housing 16and interfaced with the meter 10, the communication device 14 isaccessible externally from the housing 16 as shown in FIG. 4.

Other data transmitted to communication device 14 can include the nameand address of the customer, an account number corresponding to thecustomer, the date and time of transmission of the measurement data, thedate and time of the last transmission of the measurement data, theamount to be billed to the customer, etc.

Other data transmitted to communication device 14 can include a securitykey which is deciphered or decoded by a decoder 61 (see FIG. 5 b) ofcommunication device 14. Upon the security key being decoded, a signalis transmitted by a processor 60 (or ASIC) of communication device 14 toa processor 52 (or ASIC) (see FIG. 5 a) of meter 10 via communicationinterface 12. The signal is embedded with the decoded security key.After receiving the signal, processor 52 determines that the signal isembedded with the decoded security key and transmits the measurementdata to communication device 14. If decoder 61 of communication device14 cannot decode the security key, the signal cannot be embedded withthe decoded security key and transmitted to processor 52 of meter 10 forenabling the transmission of the measurement data to communicationdevice 14.

Communication device 14 includes communication circuitry 62 (see FIG. 5b) for transmitting the measurement and other data to the centralcomputer station via known methods, such as RF transmission, cellulartransmission, satellite transmission, etc. Communication circuitry 62can also receive data transmitted from the central computer station viaknown methods, such as RF transmission, cellular transmission, satellitetransmission, etc. Communication device 14 can then transmit thereceived data to meter 10 via communication interface 12.

The data received from the central computer station by communicationdevice 14 and transmitted to meter 10 can include, for example,instructions for meter 10 to perform one or more diagnostic tests andsoftware updates for appending or overwriting application softwarestored within processor 52 of meter 10. The application software iscapable of being executed by processor 52 of meter 10 for performingvarious functions of meter 10, such as running diagnostic tests,obtaining measurement data, and operating a display.

The application software is also executed by processor 52 forcommunicating the measurement and other data to communication interface12 for being routed or transmitted to communication device 14 from whereit is transmitted to the central computer station via a communicationsinfrastructure having one or more communications networks, such as PSTN,cellular network, satellite network, Internet, Ethernet, Intranet, LAN,WAN, etc., operating according to one or more communications protocols,such as CDMA, TDMA, 3G, Internet protocol, Bluetooth, etc. Accordingly,communication device 14 includes application software for transmittingthe measurement and other data via a communications network of thecommunications infrastructure according to a communications protocolpre-programmed within processor 60 of communication device 14. Thecentral computer station utilizes the measurement and other datareceived from a plurality of meters 10 in the field for billing andother purposes as known in the art.

Processor 52 can store the data to be transmitted to the centralcomputer station in a memory, such as SRAM and DRAM, and transmit thedata on a periodic basis to the central computer station. As such,processor 52 includes a timer for clocking a predetermined amount oftime, for example, 30 days, before transmitting the data to the centralcomputer station. The data can also be transmitted to the centralcomputer station after processor 52 receives a signal from the centralcomputer station to transmit the data.

In a preferred embodiment as shown by the figures, port adaptor 12 a isa serial port adapter. However, it is contemplated that a parallel portadapter or other type of port adaptors can be provided to communicationinterface 12. It is also contemplated that the interfacing betweencommunication interface 12 and communication device 14 in proximity tometer 10 can be achieved via wireless communication means, such as ashort range RF link, infrared link utilizing, for example, at least oneIrDA port, etc.

Serial port adapter 12 a is preferably a 16-pin serial port adapterwhere pins 1 through 7 are standard IEEE RS232 interface pins; pins 8through 10 are EEPROM card identifier pins; pins 11 through 13 providegrounding for communication device 14; and pins 14 through 16 providepower to the communication device 14. Communication device 14 ispreferably powered by three volts received via pins 14 through 16 whenit is interfaced with serial port adapter 12 a.

With reference to FIG. 5 b, communication device 14 is preferably aplug-and-play PCMCIA-type card 64 or other type of memory card havingprocessor 60 and a serial connection port 24 a for connecting to serialport adaptor 12 a of communication interface 12. As stated above,processor 60 executes application software stored within a memory forreceiving measurement and other data via the connection port-serial portadaptor connection and communicating the received measurement and otherdata to the central computer station via communication circuitry 62 andvia one or more communications networks, such as PSTN, cellular network,satellite network, Internet, Ethernet, Intranet, LAN, WAN, etc., of acommunications infrastructure according to a communications protocol,such as CDMA, TDMA, 3G, Internet protocol, Bluetooth, etc.,pre-programmed within processor 60.

Processor 60 communicates the measurement and other data to the centralcomputer station via communication circuitry 62 which includes theappropriate hardware, such as, for example, an antenna, RF transmissionmeans (RF transmitter and receiver), modem, telephone jack, Ethernetjack, broadband connection, DSL connection, etc., for transmitting themeasurement and other data.

Communication device 14 may also be, for example, a cellular phonehaving a port connector capable of connecting to communication interface12 for receiving the measurement and other data via the portconnector-communication interface connection and for transmitting themeasurement and other data to the central computer station via a CDMAcellular communications network according to the CDMA communicationsprotocol. Communication device 14 may also be, for example, a PDA havinga port connector capable of connecting to communication interface 12 forreceiving the measurement and other data via the portconnector-communication interface and for transmitting the receivedmeasurement and other data to a PSTN, from where it is transmittedthrough the Internet according to the Internet protocol, and then toanother PSTN connected to the central computer station.

Hence, in accordance with the present disclosure, an individual orcompany representative can install a meter equipped with a communicationinterface 12 which can later be interfaced with a communication device14 capable of transmitting data over a particular communications networkaccording to a particular communications protocol.

The present disclosure further provides a kit having a meter 10 and acommunication device 14. The present disclosure also provides a methodfor effectively and inexpensively switching from a first communicationsinfrastructure to a second communications infrastructure for receivingmeasurement data at a central or remote computer station from aplurality of meters 10. Each meter 10 includes a measurement module 50for obtaining measurement data; and a communication interface 12configured for receiving the measurement data. The method includes thestep of interfacing each of the plurality of meters 10 with a firstcommunication device via the communication interface 12. The firstcommunication device is adapted to communicate with the central computerstation via the first communications infrastructure. The method furtherincludes the step of removing the first communication device from eachof the plurality of meters 10 and interfacing each of the plurality ofmeters 10 with a second communication device via the communicationinterface. The second communication device is adapted to communicatewith the central computer station via the second communicationsinfrastructure.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made to theembodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, the above description shouldnot be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of thevarious embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision othermodifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.

1. An energy meter comprising: a measurement module for obtainingmeasurement data indicative of energy consumed or other measurementdata; at least one processor or ASIC having at least one internal orexternal memory for storing application software capable of beingexecuted by the said at least one processor or ASIC; said at least oneprocessor or ASIC functions to include at least one of runningdiagnostics, obtaining measurement data, and operating a display; and acommunication interface configured for receiving the measurement dataand for operatively communicating the measurement data, via a single,predetermined data protocol, to at least one of a plurality ofdetachable, different communication devices disposed in the meter, theat least one communication device being a plug-and-play device includinga processor programmed with at least one communication protocol forconverting the measurement data in the single, predetermined dataprotocol to the at least one communication protocol and a communicationcircuitry being configured for transmitting measurement and other datato a computing device via the at least one communication protocol over apredetermined communication infrastructure, the at least onecommunication protocol of the at least one communication device beingdifferent than a communication protocol of a second communication devicein the plurality of detachable, different communication devices.
 2. Themeter according to claim 1, wherein the communication interfacecomprises a port adaptor for connecting to a corresponding port adaptorof the at least one communication device for interfacing saidcommunication interface with the at least one communication device. 3.The meter according to claim 2, wherein the port adaptor of thecommunication interface is one of a serial port adaptor, Ethernetnetwork adaptor, cellular network adaptor and Bluetooth adaptor.
 4. Themeter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one communicationdevice further comprises a decoder for decoding a security key receivedvia the communication interface from said meter.
 5. The meter accordingto claim 1, wherein the at least one communication device includes oneof a port to port adapter and edge connector.
 6. The meter according toclaim 1, wherein the communication circuitry is configured fortransmitting the measurement and other data to a central computerstation via one of RF transmission, cellular transmission and satellitetransmission.
 7. The meter according to claim 1, wherein the at leastone communication device is a PDA or personal computer.
 8. The meter ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one communication device is adapted forusing a wired, wireless, or optical communication link for coupling tothe predetermined communication infrastructure.
 9. The meter of claim 1,wherein the at least one communication device is adapted for using atleast one of CDMA, TDMA, 3G, Internet, or Bluetooth communicationprotocols for coupling to the predetermined communicationinfrastructure.
 10. The meter of claim 1, wherein the at least onecommunication device is adapted for coupling to the computing device viaone or more communication networks selected from the group consisting ofa PSTN, a cellular network, a satellite network, anEthernet/Intranet/LAN/WAN, and the Internet.
 11. The meter of claim 1,wherein the at least one communication device is a PCMCIA-type card. 12.The meter of claim 1, wherein the processor of the at least onecommunication device is adapted for (i) identifying in the informationreceived from the computing device portions addressed to the meter and(ii) selectively forwarding said portions to the at least one processorof the meter.
 13. The meter of claim 12, wherein the portions of thereceived information comprise requests for pre-determined data orsoftware adapted for execution by the at least one processor of themeter and comprising meter configuration instructions, meter diagnosticsinstructions, or meter software upgrades.
 14. The meter of claim 12,wherein the processor of the at least one communication device isfurther adapted for: identifying in the received information a codedsecurity key; decoding the security key; and enabling data exchangesbetween the at least one communication device and the at least oneprocessor of the meter when the decoded security key is a pre-determinedsecurity key.